Calfornia should toughen tobacco laws

Supervisors in San Francisco are voting on whether to increase the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21.

Photo: Paul Sancya, Associated Press

Few industries have as much sway in Sacramento as tobacco. This state’s 87 cents-a-pack tax ranks 34th in the nation and hasn’t budged in 18 years. Moderate Democrats and Republicans block increases and reap campaign donations. Ballot measures to boost tobacco taxes and discourage use are clobbered by heavy spending campaigns that mislead voters.

This track record should end, possibly on Thursday in a session of the Legislature to consider health care issues. Lawmakers should approve a string of six tobacco control bills instead of caving to a lethal industry.

One measure, SB7, would increase the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. Nearly all adult smokers begin the habit while in their teens, when use tends to be affected by price. This week, San Francisco approved a local version to limit purchases to buyers who are at least 21.

A second bill, SB9, would allow cities and counties to pass higher taxes on top of the state levy. Higher taxes are a twofer: giving local government more funds to fight smoking while driving down purchases that will cost more. A bolder plan for an extra $2 per pack may end up on a future state ballot.

Health & Smoking

Another bill would regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, a needed dose of oversight of the fast-growing world of vaping aimed at young consumers. Other measures would bar smoking from all school facilities, add to no-smoking areas, and set annual fees for sales licenses.

The voting in the state Assembly will be a test to see whether lawmakers support public health or Big Tobacco.